InfoHive – Data Security

What’s happening? The Department of State is establishing a Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy. Supporters are bipartisan including Mike McCaul (R-Texas), Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), and Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) 

Why is this important? The DOJ gave the Senate the power to confirm the head of the his Bureau.

How will this be important? The bureau will focus on international cyberspace security, international digital policy, and digital freedom and will integrate the core security, economic, and value components of the DOJ cyber agenda.

The Hill | Lawmakers praise upcoming establishment of cyber bureau at State

What’s happening? The Department of Justice will use the False Claims Act to impose penalties upon recipients of government contracts and grants that fail to follow required cybersecurity standards.

Why is this important? To be penalized a contractor had to knowingly fail to comply.

How will this be important? They want to take a stand this will be hefty fines and heavy protection of whistleblowers.

Pillsbury | DOJ Announces Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative to Combat Cybersecurity Threats

What’s happening? 2020 saw $3.3 billion in losses to cybercrime. That’s double the 2010 numbers. 4.7 million reports of cybercrime in 2020, that’s a 300% increase from 2010. Any drops in cybercrime during COVID were modest.

Why is this important? Lets look at where cybercrime hits the most and the least:

The MOST hit by cybercrime:

• Alaska—$500
• New Mexico—$420
• California—$407
• Washington—$400
• Nevada—$400
• Delaware—$400
• Washington, D.C.—$399
• Florida—$384
• North Dakota—$381
• Arizona—$374

The lease hit by cybercrime:

• West Virginia—$205
• Kentucky—$210
• Maine—$211
• Mississippi—$213
• Rhode Island—$229
• Ohio—$230
• New Hampshire—$231
• Missouri—$236
• Indiana—$240
• Wisconsin—$249

How will this be important? With more people working from home, and the cybercrimes related to federal and state COVID programs, the cybercrime numbers are expected to keep increasing.

Route Fifty | States With the Most and Least Cybercrime

What’s happening? Politicians are touting it, and cryptocurrency miners see the lone star state and its low-cost energy as an appealing location.

Why is this important? A research associate at the Webber Energy Group at the University of Texas at Austin says that “Because Texas has some of the lowest cost electricity in the world, it looks pretty attractive to bitcoin miners or cryptocurrency miners.”

How will this be important? Opponents. Like these:

• An associate professor of environmental engineering at Rice University says ” “But just adding brand new demand to the grid isn’t helpful, or doesn’t fix the shortfalls.”
• founder of the website Digiconomist which analyzes the impacts of cryptocurrencies says ” “This is a massive risk when you look at the Texas grid, which is already quite weak,”

Houston Chronicle via Governing | Can Texas’ Power Grid Withstand Cryptocurrency Mining?

What’s happening? State Information Officers have been primarily focused on cybersecurity. Thanks to the pandemic, states #2 priority is improving digital services.

Why is this important? Streaming state services for functional and efficient digital services is good for state operations and good for state citizens. Connecticut says it thinks  it has saved aspiring entrepreneurs 38,000 hours by streamlining digital services.

How will this be important? States are beginning to understand that they should be able to deliver services, like food in disasters, as quickly and efficiently as you can get a coffee at Starbucks.

Government Technology | States to Maintain Digital Service Delivery Post-Pandemic

What’s happening? White hat hackers, like academics or the press, discovered a flaw in the Missouri Department of Education’s website that exposed the social security numbers of teachers. They notified the state to not draw attention. In turn, the Governor attacked the white hat hackers who were trying to do a good.

Why is this important? DO NOT SHOOT THE MESSENGERS

How will this be important? Make sure your state laws on hacking are up to do date for the good guys to say hey there’s a flaw, let’s fix it before oil becomes a problem.

Washington Post | A fight in Missouri shows the damage of overbroad hacking laws

What’s happening? Gov. Greg Abbott wants Texas to be the center of the semi conductor world. (sssh! Don’t tell Austin it isn’t the center of the world).

Why is this important? The Gov. is assembling a task force in hopes of bringing the National Semiconductor Technology Center to the state.

How will this be important? The current Congress created the National Semiconductor Technology Center. This could be interesting foresight into the relationship between the Democratic Congress and Texas.

KTRH | Abbott Wants Texas To Be National Semiconductor Technology Center Home

What’s happening? Rackspace conducted a survey of 1,420 government IT decision-makers and learned:

• 52% expressed significant concerns over recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent
• 84% said they lack the expertise to meet current cybersecurity and compliance challenge
• 73% time constraint problems
• 59% lack of training challenges

Why is this important? 58% were concerned about attacks of their networking systems followed by platforms 54% and apps at 53%.

How will this be important? 49% of respondents said adopting a zero-trust security framework would address cybersecurity challenges

Route Fifty | Half of Public Sector IT Pros Not ‘Fully Confident’ in Cyberattack Response

What is happening? Massachusetts Legislature is consider S48 (2021 | MA) , An Act to ensure a free and open internet in the commonwealth, to keep providers from  blocking, throttling or engaging in the paid prioritization of providing Internet service.

Why is this important? Net neutrality is moving to a state to state issue

How will this be important? MA isn’t alone, WA and CA have also entered into the net neutrality fray to keep providers from allowing for paid prioritization of internet services.

Government Technology | Massachusetts Proposes Regulating Broadband Industry

What’s happening? Halloween candy manufacturer was hit by a ransomware attack. We’re talking core Halloween candy on the US: Everlasting Gobstoppers, Lemonheads, Now and Later, Nerds, SweeTarts, Laffy Taffy, Red Hots, Pixy Stix, Atomic Fireballs, Boston Baked Beans.

Why is this important? Ransomware attacks are up and here we have an attack that could impact Halloween which is really just a candy holiday.

How will this be important? Well, just today Treasury Secretary Yellen called ransomware a direct threat to security.

The Hill | Major US candymaker targeted in ransomware attack